Shovel.



entrai) seras maar orare CHARLES D. ORCUTT, NORTH TONAWANDA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO BUFFALO SLED COMPANY, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK. p

SHOVEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, 191,1.

Application filed October 20, 1910. Serial No. 588,06?.

To all whom it may concern: y

Be it known that l, CHARLES l). (ilRCU'r'r, a ritizen of theUnited States, residing at. North '.lonawanda, in the county of Niagara and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Shovels, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is the production of a shovel which .is more particularly designed for handling snow and which is not only stronger and lighter than shovels of the same capacity heretofore in use but which permits of detaehing the handle from the blade, so that a consignment of shovels can be shipped in a knock down condition at lower rates and the handles can also be readily replaced by new ones, thereby saving the blades instead of discarding the same with the broken handles as has been eustomar-y heretofore.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure l is a rear elevation of a snow shovel embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section ot the same in line il-9, Fig. l.. Fig. 3 is a plan yview of'a blank from which two of the blade sti'l'l'ening ribs are produced. Fig. l is a side View of one of said ribs in a partially formed condition.

Similar letterso-f reference indicate co1*- respomling parts throughout Athe several views'.

A represents the blade of the shovel which is constructed ol sheet'. metal and curved Ivertically in the form ol a scoop in a well V known manner.v At its front edge the blade is provided with the usual wedge strip (c which is secured thereto by riveting, as shown, or b f any other suitable means.

B represents the handle which is preferably constructed of wood ,and detachably connected with the blade. in a mannerto be presently described.

()n..its mulerside the blade has secured thereto two ribs which serve the double purpose of still'ening the blade and also astpart of the means for connecting the handle with the blade. Each t' these ribs is constructed of angle iron and comprises an inner laterall y projecting flange C which .is/,secured to the rear side of the blade by rialets c so as' to be arranged parallel with tihe plane of the same and an outer flange which projects rearwardly from the inner flange and at right angles to the same. llach of these ribs vis bent laterally near its uppef'end and the two ribs are so arranged on thief-rear side of the blade thatI the front partsfc" thereof converge upwardly while the `upperflpartt's e1 thereof are parallel and are separated by .an intervening space. The front. parts c of the ribs are curved to titthe back of the blade and the frontA ends thereof are ar ranged between the blade and the adjacent part of the wearing strip. The inner flange of each rib is preferably rectangular or of the same width throughout its length while the outer flange tapers from its upper end toward'its lower end. .Bythis means the shovel can be brought close to the surface from which the 'snow is being removed and the stitt'ening effect of the same is gradually increased from the front edge to the rearedge of the blade, thereby strengthening the dili'erent parts of the blade in proportion to the load or strain to which the same is subject'ed whilefin use. A cooperating pair of such ribs are preferably constructed from outerlongitudinal edges of the blank, thereby forming two ribs each having an inner rectangular flange and an outer triangular flange. After the ribs have been thus cut and folded the saine lare bent so that the front parts converge upwardly and the rear parts are parallel when applied to the blade and the front parts are also curved to fit the shape of the blade. 4

The handle is arranged, at .its lower end between the parallel upper parts of the ribs and is preferably detaehably secured thereto by bolts 7L passing transversely through to the handle and the adjacent parallel parts of the outer `flanges.

When shipping the shovels in quantities Athe handles are removed from the blades, thereby permitting the.1 same to be stowed more compactly and reducing cost of transJ porta ti on. Furthermore by making the handle detachable from the blade a new handle claim as my` invention.:

l. A shovel comprising a blade, two ribs scoured to the rear side of the bladeand eonverging upwardly, each rib haring an inner Harige arranged parallel with the plane of the blade and secured to the blade and an outer flange arranged at right angles to the inner flange, said outer [lange tapering from its upper end toward its lower end and said .inner flange being o'l J@he saine width throughout its length, and a handle a1'- ianged between the upper ends of the ribs and secured to the outer flanges thereof.

2. A shovel comprising a blade, -two'ribs arranged on the rear side of the blade and having their lower parts converging nl CHARLES l). URCUTT.

Witnesses: JOL .-1 J Sei-minima, Minnie E. Doi/Ln. 

